Homecare Independent Living

Article in Ulster Gazette – 28th January 2009

Successful Armagh Company, Homecare Independent Living are

innovative leaders in the delivery of community care and support.

The domiciliary care division of Homecare Independent Living was established by Mairead Mackle in 1995 and operates within all Trust Areas in Northern Ireland delivering high quality domiciliary care services.  Homecare has also expanded the provision of domiciliary care into the South of Ireland, providing services across Cavan, Monaghan & Louth.

In 1998 Gerald Mackle established our Housing Services, working predominantly with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to provide temporary accommodation for vulnerable families and individuals.

Our Support Services division was created in 2003, providing a vital service to those accessing our temporary accommodation.  Staffed by skilled project staff with social work and/or mental health qualifications, this service seeks to enable service users to achieve independent living.

In 2008 Homecare united its Housing, Support and Domiciliary Care services to create a Peripatetic Service designed to support and care for those with a high complexity of need.

The various divisions have now been integrated and are known as Homecare Independent Living, with our head office being based in Callan House, Milford, Armagh.  Since its inception Homecare has strategically developed into a leading and progressive provider of domiciliary care, accommodation and support services. 

Our Services

Our Housing Service provides safe, warm and comfortable homes to those who are vulnerable in the community.  This service is backed up with an excellent Support Service to those with multi-complex needs.

Our specialist Peripatetic Service combines our Housing, Support and Care Services, enabling independence for people with a high complexity of need, crossing physical health, mental health, older people and learning disability boundaries.

With a workforce of over 400 staff and as one of the largest employers in the Armagh area, Homecare is committed to the development of a high quality workforce.  It is precisely this commitment which has equipped us with the ability and confidence to meet the needs of our service users.  The provision of high quality care and support forms the heart of our practice and we believe that compassion and care for the vulnerable people with whom we work is the basis of our service.  Our primary goal is to empower service users to gain and maintain as much independence in their lives as possible, to maximise their capacity to make choices and decisions, and to enable them to control their own lives.  We believe that this goal can only be achieved by developing positive and meaningful relationships that respect individuality and diversity, and which respect the whole person.

The development of so many services allows us to focus on the personal development of our staff.  Indeed, many of our managerial staff started their careers with Homecare as Care Assistant or Project Worker staff.  The diversity of job opportunities enables us to develop and promote talent from within our current and future staff.

Investing in Quality, 2008 has seen the creation of five new posts to support and monitor the quality of care delivered. Homecare has also established a Training Department with its own simulated training rooms and unique training programmes to support and develop all our staff.

FUTURE INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

We have recently invested in Information Technology with new software programs designed to enable managerial staff to work remotely at the point of care.  We believe that this will benefit our service users greatly. 

Homecare are currently assessing how this technology could further assist or support many more people to remain living at home by using our ability to monitor care remotely.

Homecare is committed to reinvesting in all aspects of company development whilst having due regard for the current global financial climate

CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITES IN THE ARMAGH AREAS!

Homecare sees 2009 as a year of continuing expansion and development of services. As a major employer In Armagh we wish to attract people who naturally car and want to make a difference to someone experiencing difficulties in their life, lifestyle or the state of their Mental and Physical Health. We seek people who wish to pursue a career in health who want to work for a dynamic innovative and successful company who is passionate about the care and support on offer to its clients.

We are currently recruiting for 3 Senior Project Workers who will be based in the Armagh and Newry areas who will ensure that high quality support is delivered to all service users.

In addition, with the continued growth in the industry, Homecare currently have many opportunities for full or part time care staff to work in the Armagh and Dungannon areas.

We are looking for 20 new care staff within the Armagh & Dungannon area to further develop our services.  These areas include: Armagh, Richhill, Middletown, Keady. Tandragee, Loughgall, Portadown, Annaghmore, Derrynoose,  Dungannon, Moy, Coalisland, Donaghmore, Augher, Clougher, Fivemiletown, Galbally, Ballygawley & Stewartstown.

To work as a care assistant can be challenging yet extremely rewarding. There are many more benefits of working for a company that is totally focussed on quality:

Excellent rates of pay

Holiday Pay

Excellent certified Induction training and ongoing development training

Opportunity to achieve NVQ Level 2 and Level 3

Excellent career opportunities

No previous experience required

The stability of a progressive healthcare company

If you would like to be part of Homecare Independent Living and want to learn how to provide these valuable and essential services in the community, why not come along to our Open Day in the Armagh City Hotel on Friday 30 January 2009 from 10am – 4pm.

You can also log on to the website www.homecareindependentliving.com and download the application pack or alternatively call Ruth or Joanne on 028 3751 1333 to discuss further.